Cigarette package with a cigarette ejector



Oct. 22,1963 J.:B. HOGLUND i 3,

I CIGARETTE PACKAGE wi'm A CIGARETTE EJECTOR Filed May 51, 1960 2 Sheets-Shet 1 JOHN amoswuo A TORNEY,

3,107;817 CIGARETTE PACKAGE WITH A CIGARETTE EaEc'roR Filed May 31. 1960 Oct. 22; 1963" J. B. I-QIO-GLUN-D 1 2 spans-she t 2 R usi United States Patent 3,107,817 CEGARETTE PACKAGE WiiH A (IiGARE'lTE EEECTGR .iohn Bruno Hoglund, Rosedale, N.Y., assignor to American Machine 8 Foundry Qornpany, a corporation of New Jersey Filed May 31, 1960, Ser. No. 32,981 (Jiaims. {$1. ZZl-Zil) This invention relates to a novel package and method for making same. More specifically, it relates to a package for cigarettes which is provided with a lift tape to facilitate the withdrawal of the initial cigarette or cigarettes from the package.

The present invention is applied to the conventional type of cigarette package wherein the cigarettes are tightly encased in an inner liner which is folded to form an envelope which is placed within an outer covering and subsequently wrapped with a protective layer or cellophane. Because of the tight packaging of cigarettes within this envelope, most smokers experience some degree of frustration in extracting the first one or two from a fresh package. it is only after the package is torn and mutilated and/ or the first one or two cigarettes are torn, mutilated or otherwise impaired, that the smoker can successfully gain access to the contents of the package.

Although many attempts have been made to develop means to facilitate the withdrawal of the first one or two cigarettes from conventional packages, none has been entirely satisfactory. Amongst the means which have been tried have been various forms of lift tapes, situated within the package, which would when pulled outwardly of the package would cause the lifting of one or more cigarettes. Certain of the tape devices and arrangements which were tried were quite cumbersome and complex and tended to add to the difiiculties of opening the package, rather than to simplify it, and tended also to add to the problems and costs of manufacture. Certain other tape devices and arrangements which were tried were so simple as to be ineffective, under practical conditions, for the successful and undamaged withdrawal of the initial cigarettes from a tight package.

It is, therefore, the main object of this invention to provide an improved cigarette package having a lift tape for the removal of the initial cigarette or cigarettes which, contrary to those of the prior art, is inexpensive and easily produced and which will provide effective and reliable cigarette removal means.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a combined lift tape and inner foil liner which can be used either in the hard and soft types of cigarette packages.

This invention further has as an object a method of forming an improved igarette package having a lift tape attached to the inner foil liner which does not require any major change or alteration in the present pack-aging methods or apparatus. 2

Other objects and features will appear from the following description of the particular physical embodiments selected to illustrate the invention. In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, like reference characters have been applied to corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of an inner liner envelope showing the lift tape of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view similar to that of FIG. 1 in which a cigarette is shown being lifted by the actuation of the pull tape. a

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the envelope p s ster? Patented ct. .22, 1963 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, containing a batch of cigarettes of which one is being lifted,

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the inner liner shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 showing the attachment of the lift tape thereto,

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of inner liner envelope showing a second modification of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the inner liner, with the lift tape attached as shown in FIG. 5

FIG. 7 is a cut away perspective view of an envelope showing a third modification of the present invention, and

P16. 8 is a plan view of the inner liner, with the lift tape attached as shown in FIG. 7.

FIG. 1 shows the lift tape 12 of the present invention attached to the inner face of a foil liner 14 which is folded into an envelope 10, in a manner quite usual in the art, and preparatory to its insertion within an outer covering. The inner liner 14 is made of any suitable material, of which the most common at the present time is a lamination of tin-foil and paper. This type of envelope is adapted to receive a batch of cigarettes 50 disposed lengthwise therein as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and may be adapted for both the hard (cardboard outer covering) and soft (paper outer covering) types of packages. The pull tape 12 extends from the bottom 16 of the envelope 10 upwardly along the side wall 18 to the top 20 and may also be made of any suitable flexible ribbon-like material, such as fabric, paper or plastic.

The inner liner 14, which forms the envelope it) of FIG. 1 and the lift tape 12, is seen in greater detail in FIG. 4. The lift tape 12, placed transversely of the rectilinear liner 14, is attached by glue, heat-sealing, or other means, to the inner face of liner 14 at a point 22 adjacent the bottom edge 24. The tape may also be similarly attached to the liner 14 at point 26 adjacent its upper edge 28, although in many embodiments this is unnecessary. A crush-cut or scored portion 30 is provided adjacent the lower point 22 where the tape is attached to liner 14. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, the cut is slightly above the point 22. The size and position of the cut or scored portion 30 is not critical, although it should have sufiicient length and/ or weakness so as to be easily separable upon an application of a slight force. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, portion 30 is a score mark and has the shape of a rather heavy line, but in centain embodiments, it may even be out completely through the liner 14.

In forming the envelope as seen in FIGS. 1 to 3, the liner 14 is folded so that the lower edge 24 of the liner 14 and its adjacent portions forms the bottom 16 of the envelope with the area immediately surrounding the lower edge of the tape 12 becoming the side flap 32. Consequently, the crush-cut or scored portion 30* is caused to lie on the bend or fold 34 formed between the side and bottom walls 16 and 18 of the completed envelope. The lower end of the tape 12 will therefore underlie at least one of the cigarettes 59 in the package.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, the liner 14 is provided with an area 36 along its upper end which will be easily separable from the remainder thereof. This area 36 is formed by crush-cutting or scoring the liner 14 along the lines 38 generally surrounding the upper end 26 of the tape where it lies on or is attached to the liner 14. When the liner is folded into an envelope, the upper separable area 36 becomes part of the top 36 and forms a distinct removal member 46, providing means for easily opening the envelope and gaining access to the inside of the package. This portion 40 may be identified with the word pull or other suitable indicia for the convenience of the smoker. Should the lift tape 12 be attached to the removal member ill, it will of course be actuated by the smoker in opening the package. Once the initial cigarette is removed from the platform 4d, the platform will remain in extended upward position as shown in HG. 3. However, because of the presence of the cigarettes in the package and because of the paper and tinfoil construction of the envelope, the platform will tend to fall or deform after same handling of the package. Of course, once the initial cigarette is withdrawn the remaining cigarettes may be quite easily removed from the package. Should the tape 12 not be so attached, the tape would nevertheless be in view and easy reach of the smoker. In this event, the ta 3e 12 may also have an added tab 42, as seen in FIG. 2, so that the smoker will be able to more easily grasp it.

In opening a fresh package of cigarettes, the envelope" 14 is opened as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 and the removal member 4% separated from the remainder of the liner 14. The tape 12 is actuated by the smoker and lifted in the direction of the arrow. An upward force is transmitted to the lower flap portion 32 of the liner 14 since the tape 12 is then attached only to the liner at the lower flap portion 16. The actuation of the tape will cause the lower portion of the liner to separate from the remainder thereof, in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 because of the separation of the weakened portion 30, providing a small platform 44 carrying the initial cigarette 46 upwardly above the level of the envelope top. The slight separation formed only at portion 30 and the tight packing of the cigarettes 56 around this area (FIG. 3) causes the platform 44 to retain its shape when the tape 12 is pulled and the upward force on the tape 12 is consequently transmitted only to the bottom end of the cigarette 46 lying thereon. It will thus be seen that the initial cigarette will be easily removed without great effort and without undue destruction of the package.

It is noted that the details of the construction of the envelope and the pull tape may be varied to adapt the envelope for any type of package. For example: the crush-cut or scored portions 38 and the area 36 at the upper edge 28 of the liner are features of modern packages which add to the ease of opening them, but they are, however, not essential to the present invention. In packages wherein the inner liner is not crush-cut at its .upper edges, or wherein the liner is folded so that the upper edge does not fold completely over the top of the envelope, the upper end of the tape 12 need not be attached to the liner (as shown at 26) but may remain loose so as to be grasped by the smoker. In this form the tab 42 may be satisfactorily employed.

Furthermore, by changing the location of the pull tape 12, on the liner 14, the liner may be further adapted for any type of outer covering. In this last connection, it is noted that the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4 is most suitable, although not limited, for the soft pack, since the pull tape 12 will be located where the liner 14 is folded at the side 18 of the envelope, at the place normally opened by the smoker. The embodiment shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and described below is suitable for use in the hard pack because the tape 12 will, in a completed package, lie centrally of the broad side of the package. V

In FIG. 6 the liner 14 and tape 12 are formed and attached to each other in a manner similar to that described with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, except that the tape 12 is located toward one end of the measured liner blank 14. When this liner is folded, (FIG. 5), into an envelope, the removal member 40 and tape 12 will be located centrally of the top of the package instead of at one end as shown in FIG. 1. The removal member 40 then becomes most suitable for the hard pack which requires a wide top opening. The lower end 22 of tape 12 adhered to the liner 14 and the lower cut portion of the liner 14 are positioned the same way, with respect to the side and bottom as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, i.e., the scored portion 3% lies at the bend 34. It is customary in hard packs to form the envelope initialaly of two separate pieces of liner. In this case, it will seem apparent that the present invention may be easily worked by eliminating, as mentioned above, the attachment of the upper end of the tape to the liner.

Further modification may be made to the form of the lower crush-cut or scored portion 30 and reference is made to FIGS. 7 and 8 of the drawings to show this. In the modification shown in these figures, the crush-cut 30 is made on either side of the pull tab and runs substantially transverse of the foil liner for a short distance.

r The effect of this type of crush-cut is the same as that The pull tape may be supplied in large rolls of webbing somewhat in the manner in which the foil liner is supplied to the packaging machine. The tape may then be cut and adhered transversely at spaced intervals .to the foil liner prior to the liner itself being cut and formed into the envelope. On the other hand the tape in premeasured lengths may be adhered to the liner, or formed therewith when the liner is first made and stored in large rolls. The finished \liner and tape can then be supplied to the packaging machine without any change in the present apparatus, since they can be considered a single unit. Other methods will seem quite evident to those skilled in the art, for example, in some machines the foil may be supplied in cut premeasured lengths to which the tape has previously been added, and none of these need require any substantial change in the present packaging apparatus or costs.

It will thus be seen that the objects set forth above, and those made apparent from the preceding description, are efiiciently attained, and since certain changes may be made in carrying out the above method and in the article set forth without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained'in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing be interpreted as illustrative and not limiting the scope of the invention which is set forth in the appendant claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a cigarette package, the combination of; an inner envelope for containing a plurality of cigarettes in lengthwise relationship, said envelope being formed with 0pposed side and end walls, and upper and lower closure flaps; and a cigarette removal tape, said tape being secured at one end to a portion of said lower closure flap underlying at least one of the cigarettes, and extending outwardly of said envelope along one wall of said envelope, said envelope being weakened at the junction of said lower flap and said sidewall in the vicinity of said tape whereby when said tape is pulled a portion of said lower closure flap is caused to rise lifting said cigarettes.

2. In a cigarette package, the combination of an inner envelope for containing a plurality of cigarettes in lengthwise relaitionship', said envelope being formed with opposed side and end walls, and upper and lower closure flaps; and a cigarette removal tape, said tape being secured at one end to a portion of said lower close flap underlying at least one of the cigarettes, and extending outwardly of said envelope along, one wall of said envelope; said envelope being scored at the junction of the bottom flap and wall adjacent the point where said tape is secured,

3. In a cigarette package, the combination of an inner envelope for containing a plurality of cigarettes in lengthwise relationship, said envelope being formed with opposed side and end walls, and upper and lower closure flaps; and a cigarette removal tape, said tape being secured at one end to a portion of said lower closure flap underlying at least one of the cigarettes, and extending outwardly of said envelope along one wall of said envelope; said envelope being cut at the junction of the bottom flap and wall adjacent the point where said tape is secured, whereby when said tape is pulled a portion of said lower closure flap is caused to rise lifting said cigarettes.

4. In a cigarette package, the combination of an inner envelope for containing a plurality of cigarettes in lengthwise relationship, said envelope being formed with opposed side and end walls, and upper and lower closure flaps; and a cigarette removal tape, said tape being secured at one end to a portion of said lower close flap underlying at least one of the cigarettes, and extending outwardly of said envelope along one wall of said envelope; said envelope being cut transversely of the junction of the bottom flap and wall adjacent the point where said tape is secured, whereby when said tape is pulled a portion of said lower closure flap is caused to rise lifting said cigaretrtes.

5. In a cigarette package, the combination of an inner envelope for containing a plurality of cigarettes in length- U wise relationship, said envelope being formed with opposed side and end walls, and upper and lower closure flaps; and a cigarette removal tape, said tape being secured at one end to a portion of said lower closure flap underlying at least one of the cigarettes, and extending outwardly of said envelope along one wall of said envelope; said envelope being scored transversely of the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,324,578 Bard Dec. 9, 1919 1,875,986 Bronander Sept. 6, 1932 2,758,517 Brightwell Aug. 14, 1956 2,821,054 Ritscher Ian. 28, 1958 2,834,514 Redondo May 13, 1958 2,849,154 Gartrell et a1 Aug. 26, 1958 2,854,898 Vo-gt Oct. 7, 1958 2,908,421 Stout Oct. 13, 1959 3,008,383 Jackson et a1 Nov. 14, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 67,350 France Feb. 20, 1958 (1st addition) 190,004 Switzerlmd Jan. 27, 1936 

1. IN A CIGARETTE PACKAGE, THE COMBINATION OF; AN INNER ENVELOPE FOR CONTAINING A PLURALITY OF CIGARETTES IN LENGTHWISE RELATIONSHIP, SAID ENVELOPE BEING FORMED WITH OPPOSED SIDE AND END WALLS, AND UPPER AND LOWER CLOSURE FLAPS; AND A CIGARETTE REMOVAL TAPE, SAID TAPE BEING SECURED AT ONE END TO A PORTION OF SAID LOWER CLOSURE FLAP UNDERLYING AT LEAST ONE OF THE CIGARETTES, AND EXTENDING OUTWARDLY OF SAID ENVELOPE ALONG ONE WALL OF SAID ENVELOPE, SAID ENVELOPE BEING WEAKENED AT THE JUNCTION OF 